Skinny your slice

Broccoli, Red Potato, and Fontina Pizza (Tina Haupert)

We all love pizza, but we don’t love piling on the pounds. There's no need to give up your beloved dish, however. A pizza that is both delicious and nutritious is possible. Here's how to "skinny" your slice:

Choose a whole wheat, thin crust

A whole wheat pizza crust is nutritionally superior to one made with refined flour. Whole grains are less processed, making them richer in vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, protein, and antioxidants. In addition, whole grains add fiber, which keep you feeling full and are essential to a healthy digestive track.

Pre-made whole wheat pizza dough is widely available in supermarkets. It's also easy to make at home by simply substituting whole wheat flour for part (or all) of the white flour in your recipe. Selecting a thin crust over a deep-dish one cuts calories and fat practically in half.

Try unconventional cheeses; blot if needed

Not all cheeses are created equally, so selection is important when it comes to slimming your slice. It's easy to reduce saturated fat and cholesterol by substituting low-fat mozzarella for regular, but you may miss-out on taste. Feta and goat cheese, for instance, are not only less oily (and fattening) than mozzarella, but they taste just as good (if not better).

If you prefer to stick with traditional mozzarella on your pizza, order it with “light cheese,” which reduces unwanted calories and fat. Using a napkin to soak-up the oil also cuts down on this excess. You lose about 40 calories and 4.5 grams of fat by soaking up just one teaspoon. Of course, it's not the prettiest way to start a meal, but blotting-off the grease helps make your pizza healthier.

Experiment with interesting flavors

Toppings make or break your pizza pie. Piling on fresh produce adds extra nutrients, filing fiber, and interesting flavors. For instance, substituting fresh tomatoes for store-bought sauce reduces sodium content while packing your piece with the antioxident benefits of lycopene. Nutrient-rich veggies are not only better for you, but they also have fewer calories than meaty toppings like pepperoni and sausage. Experimenting with fresh herbs, like basil and oregano, and fruit, like pineapple, figs, and apples, up the flavor factor of your pizza for a fraction of calories.